Together NC hears

state budget woes
By Scott Nicholson

Representatives of a number of public-service agencies gathered at the Watauga County Public Library on Tuesday to discuss state budget cuts that will affect their clients in the coming years.

The town-hall meeting was the 10th of a series organized by Together NC, a coalition organized by the North Carolina Justice Center to promote ideals of equality and opportunity.

“I believe the budget is a moral document,” said Together NC communications director Jeff Shaw. “We shouldn’t balance the budget on the backs of the poor.”

The town hall meetings are designed to communicate between public agencies and legislators who are making tough budget decisions. Shaw said the personal stories make a difference and he’s seen them have an impact in the budget process this year.

“People everywhere are speaking with one voice about this budget,” Shaw said.

Shaw acknowledged the state government is facing a $3.2 billion budget shortfall this year, and the budget will drop by 15 percent this year and by 22 percent over the next few years, which Shaw said was the largest drop on record.

He said the budget contains three dollars in cuts for every new dollar in revenue.

“In a nutshell, we think public investment is a good idea both morally and economically,” Shaw said. “We feel like putting money in the hands of ordinary citizens is how you get out of a recession.”

Shaw said current budget proposals will cut dozens of positions in Watauga County, including nine teaching assistants, 11 full-time teaching positions, and other personnel cuts, along with half the school textbook budget as well as supplies and professional development.

“All of this adds up to a cut of about $334 a student,” Shaw said.

“Why not take computer money and buy books?” asked Sarah Barrier, an audience member whose son has been dropped from Head Start.

Shaw said 94 percent of technology funds were being cut, and computers were necessary for the economy of the future.
“It’s not an either-or question,” Shaw said. “They’re cutting both.”

Bobbie Willard with WAMY Community Action said Gov. Beverly Perdue’s budget “will be devastating to the rural counties.” She said student-support programs and mentoring programs had been cut, and she might see her position get eliminated.

“Last year, we served 267 kids,” Willard said. “With community-action agencies, we already have the partnerships. If you know these kids, if you thought about putting them back into society where they are right now, you’d be scared.”

“The teachers in Avery County got a pink slip and a pink cake,” she said. “What a slap in the face.”

Hunter Wall, who works in the More At Four program, said quality childhood education led to better learning in later grades. She said cuts to the program will affect other service agencies and create greater public expense in the future.

“My concerns are the children, and my son has a disability,” Lydia West said. “The ones who need extra services are being passed down or pushed over. What are they to do?”

West was a parent volunteer at Howard’s Creek Headstart, but received a notice on May 29 that the program was closing.

Sarah Barrier is the mother of a 4 year old who is in Head Start and said her son wants to be a doctor. “If you can explain why my child can’t go to school, you need to come and explain it to him,” Barrier said.

“When he drops out of school, it will be on your hands.”

Barrier said she could take her child to Mabel Elementary for the program, but she lives across the county in Todd and couldn’t get in one of the nearer school programs.

Shaw said such real-life examples were the stories that could affect legislators, which is why the comments were documented and recorded for distribution.

“You don’t get money to grow by burying it in the backyard,” Shaw said.

“You spend a dollar on schools, you save $7 on prisons. We like to think of it as ‘Smart investors buy low and sell high,’ which is why we should invest in public programs right now.”

William Purcell, who helped organize the local town hall, said agencies should keep the message in the public eye, and Shaw encouraged people to write letters to the editor and contact their legislative representatives.

Shaw said Together NC would continue the series of town hall meetings until a state budget was adopted, which is expected by July 1.